Once we get past the age of about ten, most of us start to see the importance of knowledge. Without it, we don’t see risks, understand how to get what we want or really understand the world around us. Most people that describe themselves as businessmen follow the stock markets, monitor local real estate develops, […]
The importance of developing a range of knowledge Read More »
Last night, I celebrated a milestone birthday for my Grandmother, taking her to a fine dining establishment in Nottingham called Harts. It’s a nice restaurant based in the Park – about a million miles away from where I grew up and certainly not a location I would have ever expected to find myself when younger,
Earlier this month, I was talking to a mentor about improving the visibility of my public speaking coaching business, which has largely dropped off a cliff since I first came to London nearly a year ago. When I was in Oxford, I attended multiple evening events each week, constantly growing my network in a positive
Having a background in business and marketing, I’m occasionally approached by friends and colleagues looking to get my input on new ventures they’re thinking of pursuing. Sometimes, these ventures are well-thought out, original and are simply in need of a sounding board and someone willing to spend the time to make them work. Sadly, others
Attempting to conduct a negotiation over the phone is never an ideal scenario. Whenever I’m negotiating face-to-face with someone, I’ve got more control of the situation – I’ve usually got a team with me and can physically see the other side of the negotiation to gauge their responses and reactions to my suggestions. When I’m
How to level the playing field when conducting negotiations via phone Read More »
I’m a big advocate of investing in entrepreneurs. I’ve written time and time again that when done well, private investments can produce returns which far outperform regular market instruments. In my mind; it’s a no brainer. Banks, advisers, accountants, financiers; they all want their cut – but dealing directly with an entrepreneur removes these added
I’ve often had friends tell me that their approach to buying is to find something they like and then find the cheapest place that sells it. Whilst this might initially seem quite sensible, I believe it represents a false economy. Cheaper might save you money initially, but you’ll usually find that what you’re buying is
A long time ago, I had it put to me that “if I’m the smartest guy in the room; I’m in the wrong room”. When this concept was first presented to me, I wasn’t certain how sure of its value, but as time has gone by, I’ve come to believe in it strongly. Life presents
Over the last few months, I’ve written a fair number of articles about finance and personal investing. I believe that achieving financial security is one of the best ways to reduce stress in your life, as well as enjoy the best that the world has to offer. But there’s something that money can’t buy; good
I generally try to avoid too much controversy on this blog. Admittedly, I might occasionally pen a provocative opinion piece, but by and large, I try to stick to informative articles. Earlier this week, I took a call from now investor who really, really wasn’t ready for an investment in his business. That might sound
Are you ready to start seeking investment in your business? Read More »
What is an employer looking for? Having been through the job search a few times, I’ve discovered a few tips and tricks to optimising the process. When I’m approached by someone looking for help, I usually find that their starting point is their own point of view, rather than that of a prospective employer. “It’s
Do you understand what an employer is looking for? Read More »
If you’re like me, your most common complaint is probably that there isn’t enough time in a day, and if there is, that you can’t remember everything that you want to do. In this article, I’m going to be talking about my system for Getting Things Done; what workflows I use, and what programs I
If you were paid 50% more than your current salary for doing the same job, would be able to create 50% more value for your company? The topic of executive pay is one regularly and eagerly debated across media of all colours. From the million pound bonuses of the bankers, to the rewarded executives of
Do complex pay schemes really encourage value creation? Read More »
With August nearly coming to a close, and with the final month of Q3 approaching, how many readers can safely say that they have spent their budget wisely for this financial year? Businesses carry out budgeting exercises for a range of reasons, but primarily to plan and allocate funds to the activities deemed necessary for
A few weeks ago, I was having a discussion with a colleague of mine about the difference between Marketing, Branding and Sales; or to be more precise, which of these I thought was the most important for a small business. I was arguing that all three are intrinsically different business functions, and that small businesses
Marketing, Branding and Sales – what are they, and how do they lead to money? Read More »
